[Taxacom] FW: names pre-1758

[Michael Schmitt]

Dear colleagues,

At 14 Jun 2007 20:16:54 +0200 Nikolaj Scharff wrote:
> > ... but is indeed followed by some - like Fauna Europaea
> > (http://www.faunaeur.org/). Try to search for Salticus scenicus, and FE
> > will  explain why it is listed as Clerck, 1758.
>
>And on 21:39 14.06.2007 Laurent Raty wrote: To be clear: I'm 
>certainly not in favour of ignoring the Code.
>But, just to present the other side of the argument,
>http://www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de/zooweb/servlet/AnimalBase/home/reference?id=1
>explains why, in AnimalBase, they decided to list it as Clerck, 1757.

In my humble opinion, the strategy of AnimalBase should be banned. I 
know that other sections of the taxonomic community also have decided 
to establish their own rules. e.g. abandoning the obligatory gender 
agreement etc.

Acts like these undermine the possibility to reach reliable 
protocols, it opens the door for justifying ANY arbitrary 
nomenclatural decision, by simply referring to the - not specified - 
number of taxonomists following it.

IF one thinks the code should be changed, he/she should start a 
public discussion on the internet ("ICZN Zoological Nomenclature 
Discussion Group" <iczn-list at afriherp.org>) or in the Bulletin of 
zoological nomenclature, aim at convincing the commission members, 
and participate in the symposia on nomenclature during the 
International Congresses of Zoology (the next will be held in Paris 
August 26-29, 2008 - http://icz2008.snv.jussieu.fr). But I find it 
definitely inacceptable to rebel against the authority of the ICZN 
simply because one does not like a specific regulation. After all, 
the way the code rules the starting point of zoological nomenclature 
is rational,  practical, and simple.

                                  Best regards
                                 Michael Schmitt



************************************************************************
* Prof.Dr. Michael Schmitt (Zoologischer Anzeiger, Editor-in-          *
* Chief; Bonner zoologische Beitraege, Editor-in-Chief)                *
* Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig                       *
* Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany                             *
* Phone: +49 228-9122 286, Fax +49 228-9122 332                        *
* e-mail: m.schmitt at uni-bonn.de                                        *
* http://www.zfmk.de/web/ZFMK_Mitarbeiter/SchmittMichael/index.de.html *
************************************************************************